A2 - Wednesday, May 18, 1983 - North Shore News by Bob Hunter Leaders? Who needs them? NOT ALL THAT LONG AGO, I wrote a column in this space praising Joe Clark. I said he had a steel psyche and that, actually, there were large parts of his philosophy I could agree with. I hadn't thought positively about the Tories since the Diefenbaker sweep. Almost immediately thereafter, Joe didn’t get the percentage he thought he needed in Winnipeg, threw himself on his ballpoint, and resigned the leadership. What a banana, I thought. A death wish wouldn't be conscious. There is a syndrome, I'm sure, even if it hasn't got a name yet, that describes Joe Clark’s bumpy ride down the stairs. of power en route to the door marked EXIT. Maybe there’s a point in the evolution of society where strong leaders aren't needed, and, intuitively, smart guys realize it. In this scenario, Joe turns out to be a decent, regular guy, but too bright for his own good. Even though his career path has seemed to cut like a Prairie highway straight toward the highest office in the land; I suspect that he secretly threw the fight the moment he'd won. Or, if not the moment he won, as soon as the opportunity presented itself. Political life is built up in the media like sports into something bigger than it is. In fact, it's just another arena of human activity, never quite as important as it scems because all politicians can do, finally, is surf along on a wave of public opinion. Like everybody else in the catering industry, thcy quickly learn that ap- pearance is everything, and so they all dress up like lawyers and pretend to be honest, uncomplicatcd human beings, just like you and me. Of course it's all an act. In fact, like Joc, their motivations are horren dously comphcated and the fine linc between cgo and duty 1s blurred It's okay. that’s democracy. Its just that the rest of us fall into the habit of thinking that politicians sctually are as simple-minded as_ they pretend They're not They're Greeks beanng gifts, the whole lot Beware At any rate, the Tones face a leadership convention in Ottawa on June U1 Saace the party became headless. their popularity in the polls has soared to giddy levels | think his tells us somcthing important Canadians love a chicken with tts head cut off After a lifeame. it seems. of P ELT [ss autocratic im pudence, the very thing that Clark had going for him was tus dack of a grasp) He was no Father Earth, let alone a biblical prophet. like Inet And thats why he was night for the ames The only improvement the Tones could have made on Joe was to not have anyone at all, and by gumbo, that’s what they've done. No matter who they elect June 11, their ratings have got to falter. It’s nice, for the moment, having at least one national party without a_ strong, dynamic charisma-ridden character at the helm. Sort of like a ship that’s on automatic pilot. You're a lot safer unless you crash into a deadhead. In a way, of course, that's what's about to happen to. the Tories. If they could have just drifted without a leader until after an election, the universe would have unfolded perfectly. Leaders? Gawd. needs em? Budget passed A $26.1 MILLION “honest” budget was ratified by North Vancouver District Monday after council gave fourth reading to the fiscal paper. The $26,185,184 budget is $840,000 less than last year, but District taxpayers still face a 12 per cent increase. Mayor Marilyn Baker explained the rate increase resulting from provincial revenuc sharing changes. Who Georgia Medical Building No 625-925 W Georgia | l NAME. g ADDRESS. l POST ODE Lo HYPNOSIS * Lose weight ° Stop smoking ¢ Control stress © increase confidence * improve memory/concentration Take contro! Now! Phone 681 7388 and ask for Shotdon Gitsiver Certified by Canadian Hypnoais Assoc ALPHA CLINICS (1970) — If she is not alive, why is she growing? — If she is not a human being, what kind of being is she? — If she is not a child, why is she sucking her thumb? — If she is a living, human child, why kill her? { Join and support NORTH SHORE PRO LIFE Newdale spruce-up planned RESIDENTS in the Newdale Road, Newdale Place and Newlands Road areas of West Vancouver look set to get their neighborhood u - Council last week passed three readings of a proposed by-law that would allow road and sewer improvements. The move follows a peti- tion from local residents calling for the im- provements. The petition was led by Norman Greenberg, of 512 Newcroft Place, who told the NEWS: “We're trying to improve the area by cover- ing up all the ditches and putting in proper = storm sewers and rebuilding the streets with new gutters, curbs and paving and mak- ing the place like a nice residential area.” Council was told that the petition had been supported by the necessary two-thirds majority. PHONE ED CAT CRED CR RTD ETT: GETS GTS GETTIN SE am ame amma Ea 144 West 15th St V7M 1A5, 884.9094 _N Van FELINE BLESSING is bestowed on Ajax the cat by the Reverend Virginia Bryant during Sunday's annual Blessing of the Pets ceremony at St. Richard’s Church in North Vancouver. Ajax is pictured with owner Bev Harvey, who comes from Hor- seshoe Bay. Many other pet owners turned out for the unusual ceremony. Wa GREAT OUTDOORS equipment and apparel itd. 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